Don Toliver: Houston’s Next Rap Superstar
Houston MC Don Toliver was introduced to the world last year on August 3rd when his feature on Travis Scott’s “Can’t Say” went viral online as one of the best moments on Astroworld. Toliver’s bright vocals slice through the instrumental and steal the show from his very first line, abruptly making his presence known in the rap game. Don couldn’t have dropped his debut album at a better time; Donny Womack arrived just days before Astroworld was released and was promptly followed by an important cosign from Travis Scott himself. Shortly after, Toliver announced he would be signing with Scott’s label, “Cactus Jack Records.”
Toliver is originally from Alief, an area 30 minutes Southwest of downtown Houston. His style is different and his voice is unmistakable. Don’s treble-heavy, high-pitched tone seems built to deliver fascinating melodies that act as unescapable hooks. He brilliantly mixes hip-hop, soul, and R&B to create easy to listen to bangers. Toliver refers to his style of music as “Trap&B” and here at StereoVision we think that’s the perfect way to describe Don’s original sound. When asked about his musical inspirations, Don cites a motley crew of artists including Sade, Dom Kennedy, Travis Scott, Teddy Pendergrass. The variety of influencers should come as no surprise after one listen through the unique Donny Womack. While Toliver is influenced by variety of artists, his main inspiration for his debut album is soul icon Bobby Wamack who the record is named after. In an interview with HIGHSNOBIETY Toliver said this about the Cleveland legend:
“Of course Bobby Womack, I wanted to get deeper in the soul of what people don’t tend to sing or talk about. I feel like Bobby Womack always sung or spoke on his records. There was always a point to get across, always a message at the end of the day when Bobby Womack spoke. ”
Donny Womack is a high-energy showcase of Don’s plethora of sounds. The infectious “Issues” is an easy standout and sounds like it should be getting played on radio stations across the country. “Holdin’ Steel” with Dice Soho is one of the best cuts on the album. Toliver lays down a catchy hook over a heavy hitting beat that is always pushing the song forward. The guitar riff that anchors “2 Lil Shorty” is absolutely perfect for Don’s floating melodies that never miss a beat. That cut along with the rest of the album has massive mainstream appeal making it shocking that Toliver has yet to explode into the mainstream. Donny Womack was one of the most fun releases of 2018 and is a great listen the entire way through. Toliver is currently working on a new album that should grace our playlists sooner rather than later. After witnessing Toliver’s talent and creativity, it’s apparent that there is truly no cap on his potential. Listen to Donny Womack and get ready for a big 2019 from Houston MC Don Toliver.
